It’s early October and while it generally means that Spring kicks in and daylight savings starts, it now seems to be the normal time for shops to bring out the Christmas wares. Now usually, you’d hope that Halloween would be over before you started to trip over candy canes and ornaments. However, in the last few years, it does seem that Christmas items in store are appearing earlier and earlier.
The Christmas creep
The question is how early is too early for this kind of thing? On the one hand, the earlier these things come out the longer the Christmas season feels. I love Christmas and everything about it. If it feels like Christmas longer I have that good feeling for a bit longer too. Some people don’t feel that way at all though. Whether it’s because of family issues, or general loneliness or financial strains, Christmas can be quite a downer for many.
In the retail world getting items out early makes sense. It’s called “Christmas Creep” where they creep the Christmas feeling a wee bit earlier in store, whether with goods or decorations or both. It gives businesses a boost of Christmas sales for longer. Though it doesn’t affect everyone. Basically if you like to start your shopping earlier, then you will start on the first signs of Christmas. If you aren’t swayed by that, you won’t be buying anything until you personally feel it’s appropriate.
That said though, if I was on a budget I could see the value of starting to buy Christmas items now. If I was to buy the advent calendars to put away, then next payday I might have a bit to go towards Christmas crackers or some of the non-perishable food items that can be stored away for that special day.
Christmas wish lists
September and October usually mark of the end of the dreaded third term of school as well. With school holidays come sales, and particularly toy sales. I tend to take my children for a look at various stores around this time, gathering intel for family. “Yes, she has picked up that doll twice, onto the list it goes” or “oh that noise … can I stand to listen to it a million times in one day?”
Whether we like it or not, the countdown to Christmas is most certainly on. Term four will disappear in a blink. There will be that familiar struggle to find a weekend free of Christmas related parties and gatherings. Before we know it, it will be summer and the jolly fat man will be sweltering on his sleigh over New Zealand.
Do you think it’s too early for Christmas items to appear in the shops? When do you start your Christmas shopping?
This blog was written by Kym Moore. Kym is a working mum of two, and occasional blogger. Fancies herself a writer, when she isn’t editing her kids’ vlogs or running their social media at Baby Likes Cake. Follow them on Facebook and YouTube.
I love seeing all the xmas goodies poppi g up it makes me excited even though its is a bit if a stressful hard rime for us its all the “vibes” around us when people get into the jolly season. Theres something really magical about xmas and if we can enjoy it for longer even if we cant buy everything then im all for it.
Im your typical leave it till the last week amd most years blooming xmas eve and every year I swear i wont do it again next year…haha famous last words…as much as Its packed and people looked soooo stressed out I just zone out and quite literally put headphones on and get ibto the crowds and go with it…its once a year and not worth freaking over in my mind. Im yet to go to a single boxing dsy sale though…im scared itll pee me off seeing something i brought a week before for half the price hahaaa….and I have adopted alot more online shopping this year so when xmas eve shopping comes around im hoping wont be so much to get
I don’t mind Christmas – I know a lot of people say Oct is too early, but just whatever really, doesn’t really worry me 🙂
I absolutely love Christmas! It’s now made even more special because I see the magic and excitement experienced by my 5 year old daughter! Too early is never to early for me to go Christmas crazy!!!! Tra la la la la…
Christmas stresses me out!! It is far too early for Christmas decorations etc. in shops! November at the earliest! I shop here and there during the year, putting things away that I see on special, then In November I will get everything out and have a look to see what else I will need.
I start in September with purchases anyway, so it doesn’t bother me. Plus as I have said, I love Christmas. I also struggle to get gifts for certain family members haha, so need all the time I can get.
I do think it is a bit early. I was quite thrown today at Kmart where they had all the Halloween stuff next to the Christmas stuff.
On an upside,I got super cheap wrapping paper at warehouse as it was their last season stock haha